Michelin is Getting Teens to Talk About Tire Tread, With A Little Help From Vans

The Michelin Man proved to be a celebrity sighting at the Vans store in New York City: Photo: Scotty Reiss

A Vans #StreetTreadContest Helps Get the Conversation Started.

Before getting behind the wheel on my 16th birthday, no one had ever talked about the importance of changing tires or what to look for to know if my tires were safe. There was no distinct memory of how to check my tires in drivers ed, so I didn’t know how to know if tires were worn out and needed to be replaced. Thankfully, my parents knew that our family car needed new tires and I took part in the getting new tires on the car.

Even after learning the difference between new and worn tires, I still didn’t fully understand the importance of regularly checking your tires. Until recently when Michelin invited us to their announcement a new program designed to get teen drivers into the car conversation. Called #StreetTreadContest, it’s part of Michelin’s Beyond the Driving Test campaign to help educate teens about the importance of tire safety. To get the idea across, Michelin partnered with the sneaker company Vans to help teens make the connection between the rubber on their shoes and the tires on their car.

Teaching Teens About Their Tires Through the Similarity to Sneakers

Steve Van Doren, the Vans Ambassador of Fun, gave the example of how a skate boarder will replace their shoes when they no longer get traction when pushing off or braking. The same is true with car tires: when it takes longer to stop or you have less traction, it’s probably time to replace your tires. Taking a look at your tires is the place to start, and the best way to visualize tire tread is to look at the bottom of your favorite pair of sneakers. Those little bumps and ridges help give you traction so you don’t fall on smooth surfaces and and have better footing on the ground. Car tires have the same basic features and do the same job. And, as you wear your sneakers the rubber wears down, just as it wears down on tires from driving. When our sneakers are worn out we know it–we can easily see it. But we have to take more care to check our tires to see if they are worn.

Why Do I Need to Check My Tires?

Michelin shared a stunning fact: 300,000 teen drivers have accidents due to tire issues annually. But checking your tires to see if they need to be changed is super easy! Scott Clark, the president of Michelin, explained how to check your tires using a penny. Turn your wheels all the way to the right or left and place the penny, with Abe Lincoln’s head down, in the groove of the tire. If you can see the top of Abe Lincoln’s head, your tread is worn down.

Vans Helps Michelin Make a Difference, One Pair of Shoes at a Time

One of the coolest parts of the event was to see that Vans was excited to partner with Michelin to help educate teens. Steve and Scott introduced a shoe giveaway. “Anything that will help save teens lives is important to us,” Steve told us.

As part of their partnership, Vans has created a special Michelin-print shoe. Teens across the United States can enter the challenge by taking a photo or video of them checking the tires on their car and posting it on Instagram with the hashtag #StreetTreadContest. In August 100 teens across America will be picked to receive a pair of these one-of-a-kind Michelin-themed Vans.

Another Chance to Win Your Own Pair of Custom Vans

To help promote the contest, Michelin also gave us a pair of these custom sneakers. We would love YOU to have an additional chance to win, so we are giving away our pair, too! You can enter to win by clicking the entry box below. Good luck!

Participants can enter to win a custom pair of Michelin Vans sneakers by submitting qualifying entries via RaffleCopter before midnight, June 24, 2018. No purchase necessary to enter. A single prize of one pair of shoes will be given away. Prize has an approximate value of $100, is not exchangeable for cash or other items; the assignment of the prize is at the discretion of A Girls Guide to Cars. A single winner will be chosen at random from among valid entries. Contest open only to US residents 18 or older. Winner will be notified by email or direct message by June 27, 2018. If a chosen winner fails to respond to notification within seven (7) days that winner will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Winners must provide a valid US shipping address, not a PO Box, for prize shipment and may be asked to provide other information to verify qualification for this contest. Void where prohibited and subject to applicable law.

But Wait, There’s More!

You can also enter to win a CUSTOM PAIR OF VANS! Between now and June 24th look for A Girls Guide to Cars Facebook Live Stream broadcasts and simply join the conversation. All comments constitute a contest entry. Winner will be chosen at random from among all qualified comments on live stream broadcasts between May 25, 2018 and June 24, 2018. No purchase necessary to win, winner must be 18 years old or older, a resident of the United States, provide a valid US shipping address, not a PO Box, for prize shipment and may be asked to provide other information to verify qualification for this contest. A single prize of one pair of shoes will be given away. Prize has an approximate value of $100, is not exchangeable for cash or other items; the assignment of the prize is at the discretion of A Girls Guide to Cars. A single winner will be chosen at random from among valid entries. Void where prohibited and subject to applicable law.

Use a tread depth gauge, or if you don’t happen to have one of those laying around, try the “penny test.” Insert a penny into the tire tread grooves with Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tires are at 2/32nds of an inch or less of remaining tread

I take mine to a tire place place down the street from me. They check air and tire tread for free plus if any holes/leaks in tires they fix for free. Tires are very important since I’m afraid of changing tires.

Incredible statistic that 300,000 teen drivers have accidents due to tire issues annually. I’ve driven on bad tires without knowing. This article is a great reminder that I need to check my tires. Michaelen tires are the best!